Neal Huntington: Kang Will Be A Regular "Somewhere Down The Road"
PITTSBURGH (KDKA 93-7 The Fan) - Pittsburgh Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington joined Dan Zangrilli on Bucco Talk Saturday morning. Huntington said that the club was very pleased to add South Korean infielder Jung Ho Kang to the roster.
"We're looking forward to adding a talented, confident, accomplished young player that's going to add existing depth to our existing club, the ability to play all around the infield, the ability to swing the bat, hit some home runs, and we see him as a regular somewhere down the road," Huntington said.
Huntington added that right now, the focus will be to help Kang adjust on and off the field.
Zangrilli asked Huntington what they saw that convinced the club to give Kang a four-year contract and put him on the 25-man roster.
"We certainly understand that there's a lot of unknowns and that there is a lot of risk in this acquisition. But we think there's upside as well, and we felt like it was a good risk/reward opportunity for us. The obvious thing is the power. He hit some home runs in Korea that would have been out of any ballpark in America," Huntington said.
Zangrilli asked why the club won't send him to the minors first to become acclimated to the American game.
"The best way to learn about the Major Leagues is to play at the Major League level. It's not going to be so much adjusting to American baseball. It's going to be adjusting to the quality of Major League Baseball. And, in our minds, the best way to do that was to jump right in and play at the Major League level," Huntington said.
Is this as good a position that the club has been in since Huntington took over as general manager?
"The thing that's always uncomfortable is saying yes to that question because it may not play out that way. But yes, it is. This is as deep and as talented a roster that the Pirates have had in a long time in our minds," Huntington said.
But he added that the club has work to do, as there are flaws and challenges for the club.